Some of us struggle on alone, like the last of the mammoths, bearing the fading, tattered flag of 3/4 tights off-road while the woods echo to the vulgar, deafining rustle of loose polyester...it used to be so different.

Some of us struggle on alone, like the last of the mammoths, bearing the fading, tattered flag of 3/4 tights off-road while the woods echo to the vulgar, deafining rustle of loose polyester...it used to be so different.

Yes! Always. Not Y-Fronts or Briefs where elastic will get into nooks and crannies, but cotton stretchy shorts. Extremely comfortable and entirely chafe free no matter how long the ride or sweaty your undercarridge. I can't imagine having bare parts against the chamios - the fact you have to smear butter around to make it comfortable proves it wasn't meant to be.

As to the issue of VPL, I wear thin baggy (though not too baggy) shorts over the top. The MAMIL look is not a great one on anyone.

cotton stretchy shorts. Extremely comfortable and entirely chafe free no matter how long the ride or sweaty your undercarridge.

YUK! I'd have to stop and wring them out every 10 miles.

I can't imagine having bare parts against the chamios - the fact you have to smear butter around to make it comfortable proves it wasn't meant to be.

It ain't a real chamios leather these days you know - it is a lovely soft pad that is specifically designed to be against skin, hence the anti-bacterial coating, seam-free design and contoured, breathable material. (All of which you ruin by adding cotton underwear).

IME you don't need "chamios cream" unless you are getting wet and/or doing very long multi-day rides. In normal conditions I'm quite happy to ride 70 miles+ without any cream.